"Your Majesty! It's here! By the horizon!"

"It has arrived! My liege, it has arrived!"

"By the grace of God! It's HUGE!"

"It'll cover the sky if it keeps coming towards us…"

"Oh heaven Almighty… This is what our king must face?"

Knights within the medieval throne room clattered around to deliver to news to their king. They were frantic, desperate with their pleas. However, he did not budge or say anything. Rather he kept his eyes closed and his face forward, remaining stalwart and calm, almost as if he was in acceptance of a penance of sorts.

This is it… The moment of truth… The time and place where I must finally stand on my own two feet.

Indeed, outside in the sky was a large ominous dark cloud far in the horizon, covering a large field of grass. Flashes of thunder and lightning appeared within the clouds. The rumours behind the cloud was that the creature lurked within the clouds. It was said that it had no physical form, yet it had glowing white eyes, wings of darkness and wrought destruction on many kingdoms who dared to be in its path.

But the King knew the truth by it. Behind the beast. Behind everything.

"Our lord… Our noble, generous King…"

"To be condemned by such a fate at such a young age…"

"Dear Lord, please have mercy on our young King…"

"To think that after all these years, he, of all the Royal Family, would be our savior…"

"You're not wrong. After that incident, he vowed to do anything and everything to redeem himself."

"You're right. Our king more than redeemed himself, and we shall support him as necessary!"

Many of the townsfolk clamored around the walls of the castle. Ranging from dukes, lords, regents, merchants, priests, workers, refugees to mere peasants, they all wept tears or hung their heads. Two and a half decades ago, they have viewed this man once upon a time as a skilled warrior, a bad-tempered prince, a battle-hungry squire, and a bloodthirsty killer. But now, he has changed, accepting responsibility for what he has done for the better, and became one of the world's most beloved kings.

I know that I have wronged them… and in essence, I've wronged myself… ever since I came to this realm…

The king, however, still had his eyes closed, almost as if he was thinking… or perhaps, he was trying to remember. All the times he had when he woke up from his slumber, to his training, to helping the citizens in need, to solve disputes and resolve unwanted discrepancies. The memories this particular king made will be cherished even in the beyond.

Finally, the kingly man opens his eyes, his black irises studying his knights speak urgently with him about news he has already heard, with some of them on their knees pleading about reconsidering his choice. His faded platinum blonde hair waved around in tandem from the open windows' wind. His mouth was dry, and his recently shaved face bristled from the chills. His face had a look of tired determination, even when he heard the words of the townsfolk trying to get a glimpse at their king.

It's a shame really… If not for the circumstances, I would have stayed here… right where everything became right…

And their pleas to not sacrifice himself would not stop. Instead, they got louder and louder, until the king stood up suddenly.

"QUIET!"

Everybody almost recoiled from their king's deep baritone shout. Not just because of the surprise volume that overtook everybody else's voice, but because it brought back terrible memories.

It was because of me that they have experienced their horrible past. But… no more running.

However, it was thankfully only used to quiet them down. When the king knew he had everybody's attention, he drew a breath, and began to publicly speak.

"I know you all have your concerns with me facing the danger. I know you are all worried about me performing it on my own. Let me tell you this right now; there is a danger heading for us. A large beast shrouded in black clouds heading towards our homes, this kingdom, destroying everything in its path! The refugees that were brought into this large kingdom is a testament to that. As this land's appointed ruler- No, this land's rightful king- it is my duty and my sole privilege to protect this kingdom! To protect what matters most to me! To protect what keeps this kingdom alive! To protect what's most precious and important safe and well." Lincoln's voice nearly broke from what he just said, his memories welling up from within him.

No… not now. This nightmare must end! For me! For all of us!

But he pushed it aside, for his tears can wait. "I swear to you all that I will stop the beast and his influence from spreading. However, I shall make a personal declaration as of this moment, for all of you." Everybody stood up a little straighter, ready to follow whatever orders are present. "I decree that every citizen of this kingdom, refugees from the other ravaged kingdoms, knights and mages of this Royal Order, members of the Royal Family, and everybody you know, from close friends to mortal enemies… must keep hope within your hearts. You must persevere! If I die when I fight the beast, then it's up to the future liege, my family… and all of you to forge a new beginning. Without hope, life within this kingdom would be meaningless! Without hope, what can you create in order to make a better future for the future generation? Without hope…" Lincoln closed his eyes and heaved a deep breath. Then he put his fist right where his heart is. "The sacrifices we have made for the betterment of all of ourselves and those close to me… would be in vain." He made a gesture towards everybody, who look astonished.

Because hope is what keeps us alive… What keeps my family… my real family… alive in the beyond… What has kept me alive in this world after losing so much… for so long…

It was almost as if the people heard his thoughts. They all had a flash of empathy on their faces. Why would a king rely on his people? A few people even realized "We must not lose the foundation of strength and kindness that we have built during our time. Rather, we must focus what happens after the beast is defeated, for the world can be rid of that menace that has plagued us all!"

It's time… I've accepted what needs to be done…

"If I die, know that I shall smile upon thee in the beyond. But I will return posthaste once I fulfilled the prophecy, by the name of my father, Lynn Magnus Loud!" He then unsheathed his sword and raised it high towards the ceiling.

"FOR THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOM OF MAGNA!" The king declared in a booming voice.

"FOR THE GLORY OF THE KINGDOM OF MAGNA! ALL HAIL KING LINCOLN!" Everybody followed suit with their cheers.

The aptly named Lincoln Loud ended the speech in a patriotic way, which rallied everybody who has heard. They cheered and roared with determination and fervor towards their king, ready to do what was necessary to help their liege one last time. The king then began to walk, gathering a brown leather bag, his sword, his metal shield, his goatskin water bag, and took off his kingly robes to reveal armor. Lincoln had to pack lightly.

However, as he was walking off the throne between the cheering knights, the robed man noticed ten figures standing in the left corner of his eye, towards the sidelines of the corridors. All of them were female, and many of them had different garbs and get-ups. But their faces were what nearly made Lincoln stop in his tracks.

Those were the faces of anguish.

No… They're not my sisters… They just have their faces and mannerisms… Ugh, I can't bother to look at them…

He had to remind himself every damn time. Lincoln did not want to see their medieval counterparts again. There was no way he could handle it at this very moment. Before he could look at them again however, the eldest one turned around and walked, with the rest of them following. Their expressions were unreadable when they turned and walked off.

Last night, he had already made his peace with them and, as expected, he knew that they did not make theirs. I mean, he would be upset and miserable to high Heaven if he saw one of his sisters give up one of their lives for him. But this is a responsibility as part of his birthright and duty, as the only patriarch of the Royal Family… and as King.

King Lincoln was already set in his path, and he began to walk.

They're waiting for me… waiting in the 'heavens'… once I finish up what needs to be done. Once I tame my inner beast…

"Your Majesty! Please hold! Hear me out!"

A familiar voice yelled out of the dying cheers of the crowd, in which everybody fell silent to. Lincoln immediately stiffened from that voice. He turned around and saw a man with black puffy afro-like hair, freckles, a black-skinned face in a suit of light armour approach him and kneel with a pleading look. Around his arm was a longbow, along with a quiver strapped to the back. Lincoln watched all this with a blank stare on his face, but internally his insides were stirring from the familiar face.

Clyde…?

"Ser Clifton Mickenton? My friend, you need not bow down to me."

You were always with me… Clyde...

"B-But milord! Is… Is there really no other way?"

'Is there really no other way, Lincoln? You always got a plan ready, man!'Something twisted within Lincoln when he heard that phrase. The Clyde lookalike that Lincoln was so used to looking at for the past 30 years in this coma bowed his head down so that his liege would not watch the archer and best friend cry.

"Tis the only way, my friend. Were it any different, I would have stayed here to watch Magna prosper under my guidance."

Silence only reigned between the two. Everybody within the throne room felt the somberness within the air around their king and his most trusted fighter.

"Your wife and twin daughters, they will miss you, Milord." Clifton urged, but Lincoln was adamant about it.

"I know. We've made our peace." Lincoln replied, shaking his head.

"What about the rest of the guard who were with you? The guardsmen would have nothing left… Ser Lyonel, Ser Zachery, and even Ser 'Rustic Justice' will be lost without you…" Clifton began his excuse, but Lincoln only smiled upon hearing those respective names, as they also reminded him of what the king thought he left behind.

Liam, Zac and Rusty Spokes… If you would see these men, you'd probably geek out on how awesome you would look as knights…

"Ser Clifton, you know that they've grown up to become their own people. They have their wives and children to look after, even you, my dear friend." Lincoln brought the Clyde lookalike back into reality. Who would have thought that his best friend, despite being a little awkward and nerdy, would become a family man? "Besides, when I'm gone, they will listen to you when I'm not around. They can handle it. Besides, you are the Captain of the Royal Guard now."

"But… but your sisters, Your Majesty! You've spent almost 30 summers trying to win back their trust… and you're just going to leave them after everything you tried to achieve?!" The archer asked, trying to bring up some sort of anger or frustration, but Lincoln could hear how feign its tone was, how cracked the archer sounded… how tears were falling down his eyes. Clyde could never be mad at him.

"I've... talked with them already, Clifton. I've made my peace, no matter what they say or do… After all, 'nobody wants to go into battle with hanging guilt holding their potential back'." Lincoln sagely advised, wiggling his finger. It was an action that made the faux best friend raise a smile.

"Wasn't that line from our training instructor?"

"Of course! Though I personally call him a coach more than an instructor." Lincoln added his two cents smirk. Some of the knights who were also trained even added their own quips.

"Yeah, always showing off that authority and making us do extra push-ups!"

"Hey, it helped in the long run. The instructor always did have at least some interesting war stories."

"Err… you do know that some of the stories are make-believe right? Besides, they were more like fake dating stories anyway."

"Yeah. I mean, who believed that Instructor Pacarac had a 'maiden waiting for him at every corner of town'?"

"Well, would you believe that he and the schoolteacher in the School for Little Girls – I think her name was Anastasia Josselyn – are falling in love?"

The knights began to talk, almost as if training was done and they were in the mess hall talking or gossiping like little schoolgirls. Lincoln almost felt nostalgic on those names, how it paralleled Coach Pacowski and Mrs. Johnson. It was such a small world.

The talks quieted down when they realized Clifton and Lincoln were silent. The tension was thick, until Lincoln broke the ice.

"You already know this, but… I will miss those days terribly."

"Yes… Me too, Lincoln."

It wasn't every day that Lincoln would be addressed via first name by anybody in his military ranks. A tear ran down Lincoln's cheek, remembering those times when Clifton and the knight cadets would trade stories and songs of battles, legends, love and humour over a mug of beer. When Lincoln arrived however, the cadets welcomed him with open arms, treated them like one of their own rather than royalty. It made him feel like he belonged during his darkest times. Hell, that tavern they always visited became famous because they always drank there.

'The Forgotten Knight…' I gotta remember that name...

Lincoln knew that even though it wasn't Clyde at all, it still… felt like him. If Clyde went through time and looked like this, Lincoln would have believed him. It was something that couldn't be explained.

"Ser Clifton…" Lincoln muttered in his mouth, but it was enough for the grizzled black-skinned man to stand up on his two feet. His facial features that reminded him heavily of Clyde McBride, his best friend from the other side, still made him shudder. Placing a hand on the archer's shoulder, Lincoln leaned in for a brotherly hug, with Clifton immediately obliging. Then, after a good ten seconds, Lincoln made him swear to him:

"Swear to me, friend. That you'll protect the citizens of Magna… to fight for the hopes and dreams of our people… and to tolerate no injustice.

"I will… Lincoln…"

"You'll always be my best friend, Lincoln…"

.o0o.

15 minutes later, many townsfolk finally saw their king walking out of the palace, without Ser Clifton or any of his most trusted guardsmen, which confused them. He never walked without his guard, as Lincoln and many of the knights were loyal to each other, to the point of them being best friends. But watching their king, so determined into walking into battle, having a grave expression, finally ready to perform the duty that he was assigned to do…

It scared everybody, no doubt. But he said their kingdom would be safe as long as they do not give up hope.

It scared Lincoln too. He can't help but be scared. It was human nature to be scared. Even though he was a brave, strong, intelligent and wise king, he was still Lincoln Loud, the 11-year-old boy who can qualify for leadership under his belt, and can think of solutions right in a desperate time. He was also Lincoln Loud, the timid and scared boy who was afraid of the pain, from what the world was throwing at him after what has happened that made him turn into… this. Hell, seeing the illusionary best friend he has been hanging out with say farewell and treasuring all the memories they both shared…

Alongside the forger who trained him in becoming hard-working...

Or the farmers who have raised him from his lowest point…

Or the merchants who taught him responsibility…

Or the orphaned children, now adopted into families, in the public schools who reminded the king of his lost innocence…

Or the nobles who once sneered at him for his past mistakes, as they now look at him with genuine care, to remind him that the world is not a completely terrifying place…

Or the dead, those most precious to him, constantly reminding him of what he lost…

Or his family…

My family...

Lincoln hardened his expression. He ran away from this pain, but now he has to accept it. But sooner or later, he would have to face them. As fate would deem it so, he began to approach the city gates. Lincoln could never mistake the ten figures stood before him. He remembered their angry faces from long ago…

...and how they twisted into pain and anguish long afterwards.

Lincoln stood before them, as nostalgia began to hit him hard. He kept a straight face, yet the turmoil within would overflow any second. Letting out a sigh, he repeated a question under his breath; a question that haunted him for days in reality, and years in this dream.

"Why did this have to happen to me?"

.o0o.

In a closet-sized room, a boy with white hair, blue jeans and an orange polo shirt laid down on his bed. His room was rather spartan, only having a small desk with a chair, a shelf to organize all of his Ace Savvy comics and other books, and a pristine bedroom wall above his bed to hang posters on. Today, however, he was not interested in dealing with any of his interests. He wasn't feeling happy from past events to even consider using them.

They were all trifles to him anyway. His description of his room was only taken to face value. It may have sounded like it was a dream come true, however...

The wall had holes on them, indicating that somebody punched holes through it.

The posters had rips, tears and crinkles in it. One particular poster which had the signature of the creator of Ace Savvy was torn apart and ripped in half.

The desk looked like it has been in the junkyard, as there are parts of it where the wood was clawed and scratched on. There were even some dried sofa stains on it, giving off a smell that would give somebody Hepatitis.

Many of his comics were torn apart. If one would look hard, one set of comics looked ripped, but the other set of comics looked like they were clawed and shredded apart.

His bed lacked any blanket, sheets or pillow, rather it was just a mattress with a wooden structure holding it in place.

His stuffed bunny, Bun-Bun, was missing an arm, and had its stuffing removed.

This was what his room looked like on the inside. Lincoln didn't have the resolve or the energy to move out of his room, yet the holes in the wall and the rest of the mess reminded him on what happened. How life was shoving painful event after painful event.

It made him want to throw up, as he unconscious lifted his left arm to his forehead.

Bonk!

Oh right. "Ugh… right. I forgot about you..." Lincoln grimaced, as he looked at his left forearm and wrist, all wrapped in a white bandaged ceramic cast. He had this on for the past week, and it looked like it was going to be on the verge of healing. He then felt some phantom pain in his right leg. The white-haired boy felt the gauze bandage on his knee, and it stung more than bee stings. He really felt like shit.

'Goddammit… It's no wonder I ended up like this… To think I loved them, yet they never loved me back. Why do they not love me? What kind of family is this?' His thoughts raged on and on, contrasting to the calm and apathetic demeanor on his face. The 11-year-old asked himself countless amount of times ever since that family incident.

Who couldn't forget those 'family incidents'? Well, it could be just an incident to some, but to Lincoln, it was considered terminal abuse. His face twisted in pain and rage as he recalled the events.

The first one happened two months ago. It was the large family fight within the home with all 10 sisters fighting each other, which brought it into a DEFCON 5 situation. Lincoln tried his best to calm his sisters and come up with a solution to stop the fight, but it only grew larger. So he was kicked out of the house in order for the fight to stop, since every single room, even his bedroom, were battlegrounds for them. He had no choice but to stay with Clyde, who at least helped with talking with him.

"They just kept going and going, Clyde! What do I do?! This can't go on!"

"Calm down, Lincoln. Look, maybe you should give them some space. It'll probably cool down after a few hours."

"I… I guess. Doesn't mean I have to like it though. I just want my room back."

However, once he came back, he realized that the fighting was resolved because of his lack of interference. Once he left, Lori actually was the one who calmed them all down and talk it over. Now, just by looking at them, Lincoln knew he was singled out, when his ten sisters chided and scolded him for trying to bud in. Those remarks blew a gasket within him. Lincoln would have given them a piece of his mind, if not for his parents stepping in.

"What do you mean, I'm also getting punished?! All I did was-!"

"Yes, we know you're frustrated over this entire ordeal, but at the same time, the way you were shouting was not any better either.

That nearly brought him over the edge, but his parents firmly, yet offhandedly, told him to hold it in if he has to, as if it was nothing happened. The sisters snickered a little, but Rita and Lynn Sr. turned around with their own incensed eyes, indicating trouble.

The rest of the house was repaired thanks to the sisters, which did not take very long. Although it did not give Lincoln any sort of satisfaction. It only fueled some sort of passive aggressiveness within him. The boy would, of course, not help her sisters. However, some of them would try to get at Lincoln while doing their own fix-ups. One time, a lone Lola was trying to repaint the top portion of the newly refurbished wall using the highest step of a ladder, and she noticed that Lincoln was walking by, hands in his pockets. Feeling spiteful about her what transpired before, she poured her paint tray on top of Lincoln. The yellow paint smudged on his shirt, ruining it, and Lola just laughed at him, like she accomplished something. However, she didn't notice how unresponsive Lincoln was, which would offput many who would have been watching. Instead, Lincoln kicked the ladder down, with Lola on it. Lincoln still had his blank face when he saw Lola break her shin, and added insult to injury, nudged a large vase, toppling it over her arm.

It would have freaked out many, but Lincoln found the scream of Lola to be 'music to his ears'. It was like a voice was trying to tempt him into continuing. Lincoln shook his head,

However, the good times had to end sometime. It was only a good two weeks later when everything nose-dived at its lowest point.

The days in which Lincoln was considered bad luck to his family were not fun at all. Wearing a squirrel suit was not fun at all. Being teased and harassed and only cared for as some sort of item was definitely not fun at all.

And that inner voice only got even stronger and louder.

"Luna…"

"Dude! Why're you taking it off?! Put it back on!"

"But I was just trying to get some water!"

"Linc! Do you want us to die?!"

"..."

"WELL?!"

'Hmph… Maybe I do want you to die!'

"Maybe I do want you to die! I HATE YOU!"

That conversation did not end well. Lincoln cringed on the bed from what happened afterwards.

However, the entire fight and argument was stopped by a timely Pop-pop, Lincoln's grandfather. He gave the biggest scolding Lincoln has ever seen towards his family for putting him into such a humiliating situation. His family, even his parents, were stunned and ashamed for taking part of what happened minutes later. Immediately they went to Lincoln, now out of the squirrel suit, however, he was not having any of that.

"Lincoln, please! Just-."

"Let go of me, Lynn. You're not getting anything from me. Ever!"

"Cmon, bro, we're so-!"

"What gives you the right to even apologize, Lana?! What happened to 'put on the suit AND die', huh!?"

"Lincoln, we-!"

"Shut up, Luan! You think you're so funny with those stupid stunts of yours, don't you?! Well, it's not going to fucking save you now, dammit!!"

GASP!

"Lincy, you…"

"You heard me, Leni. I don't give a flying shit about you people anymore! You always act like I'm your little punching bag!"

"Lincoln! That's enough, you'll-!"

"You'll what, Lynn? What'll you do to stop me?! Renounce me as your son? Cut off one of my fingers? Fucking KILL ME?!"

"Big brother, we just want to-!"

"Stop calling me that, you gothic, wrist-cutting bitch! All of you are freaking DEAD TO ME! Tear your own throats out if you want!"

"Lincy, no!"

"Don't try to stop me!"

"Don't try to stop me! If I wanted you to fucking die, then you all could have just fucking said so!"

"Lincoln! How dare you! You'll march back here and-!"

"And what? Don't forget, you whore, I'm this close to calling child services on you. And I have a lot to tell..."

"You wouldn't, Lincoln..."

"TRY ME THEN!"

They made no attempt to anger him even more. Nobody wanted to contest that. Lincoln knew very well that he had more than enough dirt on his entire family at this point, and his finger was theoretically on the telephone. The ostracization between Lincoln and his sisters was more than apparent, like how Lincoln had to cover for his sisters' problems, or doing their chores for them without any thanks, and more.

The workload and 'love' that was shone would be been exactly the same kind as a slave. Non-existent.

At this point, the inner voice became prominent and noticeable. It sounded like a growling monstrosity, and Lincoln was initially freaked out by this. However, it only wanted to talk.

'No one will listen… You're all alone…'

"No! I have Clyde! I have Ronnie Anne! I…"

'Fool… They don't understand your plight…'

"But…"

'Listen… all you need… is yourself, and your own strength.'

"..."

'You can listen to me instead… Lincoln… Then you would not have to worry about your fears and worries… ever… again.'

"But… I…"

"RAAAAAAUGH! YOU FOOL! THERE YOU GO AGAIN! ALWAYS SO FEEBLE-MINDED AND COWARDLY!"

"Ahhh!"

"YOUR OPPONENTS WON'T WAIT FOR YOU! EVERYBODY WILL LEAVE YOU ON THE GROUND! MAKE THEM RUE THE DAY THEY PUSHED YOU! MAKE THEM PAY!"

"..."

"..."

"...God, you're noisy…"

"...Hmph… It's your choice, Lincoln… but the torment will only continue if you won't change who you are…"

Lincoln closed his eyes. He really hated his memories now. They were full of pain and sadness. He hated sadness. He abhorred the feeling of weakness. He needed strength to take down his enemies.

And everybody was beginning to act like his enemy nowadays…

"Why did this have to happen to me?"